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You can add a glitter finish to any color of base paint to impart a sparkly twinkle to any room. This is a largely sheer topcoat that adds a sheen of glimmer to your walls. Metallic wall paint is another way to bring a reflective play of light to a room. Metallic paint is attractive in daylight, but really comes to life in the evening, particularly under halogen or incandescent light. Keep in mind that metallic paint is relatively expensive and also difficult to touch up or repair, so it’s probably not a good choice for a high traffic area.

Glitter Finish

1

Clean the wall with a mixture of water and an all-purpose cleaner; allow it to dry. Apply spackling compound with a putty knife to repair any nail holes or imperfections in the wall. When the spackling compound dries, sand the repaired spots with a fine-grade sandpaper. Wipe the walls with a damp microfiber cloth to collect any dust.

2

Prepare the room for painting by masking around the ceiling, windows, floor and any other trim with blue painter’s tape. Using your desired base paint color, apply a 2- to 3-inch strip of paint next to the the tape using a small brush. Apply paint to the main section of the wall using a paint roller. Allow the wall to dry, leaving on the blue painter’s tape.

3

Apply a glitter finish product in the same manner in which you applied the base coat. Allow the topcoat to dry and remove the blue painter’s tape.

Metallic Paint

1

Prepare the wall surface carefully as described in Section 1. The high sheen of metallic paint will call attention to any flaws in the surface. Mask adjacent surfaces with blue painter’s tape.

2

Apply primer in a color that will coordinate with your metallic paint. Allow it to dry. Apply ready-mixed metallic paint. Roll the paint roller in long, even strokes when painting the main section of the wall.

3

Stipple the final coat with a paint brush, if desired. Doing so on metallic paint creates a hammered antique look, and also downplays any flaws on the wall’s surface.

Things You Will Need

All-purpose cleaner

Spackling compound

Putty knife

Fine-grade sandpaper

Microfiber cloth

Blue painter’s tape

Base paint

Small brush

Paint roller

Glitter finish

Primer

Metallic paint, ready-mixed

Tip

Choose your base paint or primer carefully. Although you will cover it with a sparkly sheen of glitter finish or metallic paint, the base paint’s shade remains a very prominent feature of the wall.

About the Author

Gwen Bruno has been a full-time freelance writer since 2009, with her gardening-related articles appearing on DavesGarden. She is a former teacher and librarian, and she holds a bachelor's degree in education from Augustana College and master's degrees in education and library science from North Park University and the University of Wisconsin.